USPTO Patents Application 09755408

Europaisches Patentamt

European Patent Office © Publication number: 0 329 634

Office europeen des brevets A2

© EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

® Application number: 89850050.9 @ Int.CL 4 : B 65 D 75/52

@ Date of filing: 14.02.89

© Priority: 15.02.88 SE 8800494

@ Date of publication of application :
23.08.89 Bulletin 89/34

@ Designated Contracting States:

AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

© Applicant: AB AKERLUND & PAUSING
Box 22

S-221 00 Lund (SE)

@ Inventor: Persson, Bengt "
Ostra Falkvagen 1
S-232 02Akarp (SE)

© Representative: Graudums, Valdis et al
Albihn West AB Stora Nygatan 15
S-411 OSGoteborg (SE)

@ Package.

@ A package comprising two joined members. One member
is a closed member of cardboard or corresponding material and
the other member is flexible.

Said one member has a closed peripheral portion and a
completely covering bottom which is continuous with the
peripheral portion.

The flexible member is fastened along its entire periphery at
at least as many points of the outer member that the package
has a stable shape.

O

Q.
LU

Bundesdruckerei Berlin

1

EP 0 329 634 A2

2

Description

Package

The invention relates to a package which has two
joined members, one of which is a closed flexible
member containing a filling or product and the other
of which is an outer member of cardboard or
corresponding material.

In a first embodiment, the outer member, in a
raised state, forms a tray.

The flexible member may for example be a
sheet-shaped element of paper, plastic or metal, or a
combination of the said materials. Said flexible
member can however also be a flexible container
such as a bag.

In a second embodiment, the outer member is a
frame of cardboard or a corresponding material.

The invention has been brought about by an
ambition to meet the need for a packaging technique
which is environmentally safe and uses few resour-
ces ty means of extreme saving of materials.

The problem which lies behind the invention is
thus to provide a package wherein the flexible
matennl nnd the outer member cooperate to provide
a packaging construction which is strong, has an
appscrar.ee which is well adapted to the purpose,
and is comfortable to handle. In the case where the
ou:er member is a frame, the consumption of
materials is also minimal.

According to a further aspect to the invention, the
material-saving packaging construction has shown
itself to offer an alternative to traditional cardboard
packages for example trays, but also an arrange-
ment for handling thin wall "packages" i.e. otherwise
difficult to master packages made of flexible packa-
ging materials.

The combination of flexible material and stiff
material is a well known packaging concept. There is
for example the bag-in-box technique, where a
plastic bag is contained in an outer package such as.
for example, of the folding box type. This technique
uses a great amount of material and is perhaps
basically motivated mostly because cardboard tradi-
tionally being considered to be that which sells the
product because of the good ability cardboard has
to bear pressure and to be decorated.

Neither is the ability of the outer cardboard to
stand stably especially good. One often find that an
arched or outwardly convex surface, made so
because of the filling technology, handling, etc, is
the surface which is ultimately intended to serve as
the standing surface.

Because of its lengthwise sealed parallelogram
structure, an outer package in the shape of a
so-called folding box has moderate resistance to
diagonally acting forces. A folding box collapses
rather easily under such a load.

in addition to the conventicpal cardboard and
capsule techniques are of course a large number of
techniques which in one way or another utilize a
combination of flexible material and cardboard.

SE 432 576 shows for example a flexible package
having a wrapper made of cardboard. This wrapper
has a significant width and is placed along the broad

sides of the package. When using the wrapper the
package is made resistant to pressure by folding
5 down laterally sealed tins of the flexible package
towards the outside and by allowing pressure to
press the downwardly folded tins towards the
pressure bearing wrapper.

A combination of a bag and a stiffer wrapper is
10 shown in US 327 243.

In DE 22 15 350 is shown how one will make a
plastic bag standable by fastening a strip having a
profile roughly corresponding to the shape of sigma
or W to its bottom.
15 The purpose of the invention is to improve the

combination technique additionally in order to
provide a finished package which is shapestable and
as need arises to enable full authorization of the
material saving effect in a great number of applica-
20 tions.

As was mentioned initially, the invention provides
a package which has two joined members, one of
which is a closed flexible member containing a filling
or product and the other of which is an outer
25 member of cardboard or corresponding material.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the
package is characterised by the outer member being
closed along its periphery and having a wholly
covering bottom which is continuous with a periphe-
30 ral portion, and by the flexible member being
fastened along its entire periphery at at least as
many points on the outer member that the package
has a stable shape.

In one embodiment the outer member, in a raised
35 state, forms a tray.

When in aflat state the outer member is preferably
a member which can be decorated and which is
fastened onto a filled flexible package which, along
with it contents, will earlier have been subjected to a
40 certain treatment, such as heat treatment which is
destructive to the outer member.

Since the flexible member normally consist of a
barrier specific material, normally high barrier ma-
terial, plastic material and is therefore expensive,
45 this material can be dimensioned with a view only to
its barrier characteristics whereas the outer mem-
ber, normally of the expensive cardboard material,
takes care of the shape stability.

According to a second aspect to the invention, the
50 package provided comprises two joined member,
the one flexible and the other a frame of cardboard
or the like.

According to the second aspect, characteristics
for the package are that the frame is closed, that the
55 frame has a profile which is terminated with a first
outer member and a second outer member, that the
profile is non-linear between said outer members
and, seen in the direction of the circumference of the
frame, has portions which extend outward and
60 inward relative to the package that transition
between said portions are located at the corners,
that the profile, seen in a circumferenciai direction of
the frame, has a shape which on one side of a corner

2

3

EP 0 329 634 A2

4

is mirror reversed relative to its shape on the other
side of the same corner, and that the flexible
member is fasten to at least as many members of the
frame that its deformation, viewed in the direction
perpendicular to the plane of the frame, is restrained
by the flexible member.

Depending upon the application, one or the other
or both of the outer members may comprise a lip.

In one embodiment the frame has a mainly
saw-tooth shaped profile provided with a lip whereby
on the one side of the frame corner the profile turns
its lips inwards into the package and on the other
side of the same comer it turns it lips outward from
the corner.

in another embodiment the profile between said
lips is zigzag-shaped.

According to an additional embodiment, the
profile between said lips or outer members is
rounded.

In order to provide the non-linear profile member,
in one embodiment the frame has corner folds or the
tike in a zigzag pattern transverse to its longitudinal
direction in order to form the corners, in addition to
which lengthwise running folds proceed from each
point of a zigzag fold, and each of these lengthwise
running folds changing its characteristics at the
zigzag fold, so that a fold made from the one side of
the frame material changes into a fold made from the
other side of the frame material. Because of its
shape the frame, which in itself is very rigid gains a
high buckling strength and load bearing ability at its
corners. Because the frame is closed it furthermore
becomes very torsionally stiff despite the fact that it
is built up with profiles which do not have a
significant torsional stiffness of their own. In one
embodiment said non-linear profile provides frame
surfaces for securing the flexible member.

In one embodiment the said flexible member
comprises a sheet, which is secured to the frame at
a position such that a box is formed, whereby the
sheet comprises the bottom of the box and the
frame comprises its sides..

In an additional embodiment, the flexible member
comprises a second sheet which is secured to the
frame at a position such that the second sheet forms
a lid for the box.

In an additional embodiment, flexible member is a
thin-walled, deep-drawn tray package with a heat-
sealed lid, who sealing lips are symmetrically
secured to the frame, for example the lips of a frame
provided with lips or the said non-linear portion,
where at both the lips and the said member.

In a second embodiment the flexible member is a
closed plastic bag, which is fasten to the profiled
frame at so many points, that the resulting packing
becomes rigid. If the plastic bag is provided with a
spout in one corner and a recess in a adjacent
corner, a package is achieved which stands securely
which has a handle, which is comfortable to pour out
of which has a the characteristics of a pitcher. In this
example the securing of the plasting bag is unsym-
rnetric. This package can be resealed by the spout
being folded around one of the lips of the frame,
which is provided with lips and is locked in this
position by being inserted into a slot in the frame.

In another similar embodiment the package is
suitable for, e.g. infusion solutions. In operation the
spout is turned downwards and the package is hung
from a corresponding corner of the frame. The
5 securing of the plastic bag is in this case symmetric
or unsymmetric. In the embodiment where the
flexible member simply comprises a sheet or foil,
which is fasten to the lips of the frame, if such are
provided or to the non-linear portion of the profile

10 between its first and second outer members, a
stable and cheap box or carton for, e.g., candy,
berries, fruit, etc, is achieved. With yet another foil or
sheet fastened to the opposite end portion of the
non-linear profile member or the opposite lip, one

15 obtains a lid for this package. The bottom or lid of the
box can be of an air permeable material such as a
so-called non-woven or a net. In the latter case, it is
advantageous for maintaining the rigid shape of the
package if the treads of the net form an angle with

20 the sides of the frame. In the case when one uses a
sigma as a starting point the profile of the frame
does not necessarily have to be a simple sigma. In
the alternative the frame may consist of two or more
"sigmas" placed one upon the other, whereby the

25 profile takes up less space in the plane of the
package.

The invention also provides a method for manu-
facturing a shape-stable package comprising to
joined members, the one flexible and the other an

30 outer member of cardboard or the like.

Characteristic for the invention is that a closed
member containing filling which member forms the
flexible member is fasten to the outer member,
which is closed along its periphery and that the

35 flexible member is fasten to at least so many
portions of the outer member that the shape-stable
package is achieved.

In one embodiment the flexible member with filling
is subjected to a certain treatment which is

40 destructive to the outer member, for example, heat
treatment, before it is fasten to the outer member.

The outer member can for example be chosen as
a workpiece which may be raised to form a tray and
may me decorated in advance.

45 The inner member is suitably secured to lips on
the tray.

According to a further aspect of the invention a
method for manufacturing a shape-stable package is
provided comprising two joined members, one
50 flexible and the other an outer member of cardboard
or a corresponding material. Characteristic for this
method is that the outer member is chosen as a
peripherally connected frame, which has a stiffening
design.

55 The invention will now be explained and exempli-
fied with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which

Fig. 1 shows a package comprising a closed
inner member containing a filling material as
60 well as an outer member in the shape of a tray,

Fig. 2a, b, c and d show different frame
profiles for a principle embodiment of the
invention,

Fig. 3 is a planar view showing a part of a strip
65 intended to be frame material according to the

3

5

EP 0 329 634 A2

6

invention,

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a inside
corner formed of the frame material in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of thin-waJled
package of the tray type enclosed by an
enclosing frame,

Fig. 6 and 7 show two perpendicular sections
along the lines V-V and VI-VI respectively in
Fig. 4 as an alternative for insertion and
securing of the thin-wailed plastic package in
the frame,

Fig. 8 shows a third alternative for said
insertion and securing,

Fig. 9 shows a fourth alternative for said
insertion and securing,

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a
package having the function of pitcher formed
from a flexible bag fasten to a frame of sigma
profile type.

Fig. 11 shows the basic shape of the bag in
Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a suitable
position for the spout of the bag in Fig. 12
during transport of the package according to
Fig. 10 as well as in a reclosed state,

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a
package for, e.g., infusion fluids, formed of a
flexible bag provided with a spout and fasten in
a 2-profile frame. In this example the package is
shown as being hung with a corner of its frame
hooked on a hook,

Fig. 14 shows a planar view of a portion of a
strip intended as material for a double frame
according to the invention,

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the inside
of a corner manufactured of the material in
Fig. 14, and

Fig. 16 shows a complete package compris-
ing an inner tray and a frame manufactured of
the material in Fig. 14.
The tray in Fig. 1 is a traditional cardboard tray
provided with as lip. A closed flexible package of,
e.g.. a high barrier plastic material containing filling is
carried in this tray, a plastic container or bag is
fasten to the lips of the tray to at least as many
portions or positions that a shape stable unit is
achieved. The lip or flange in Fig. 1 is directed
inwards, of course, flange directed outwards are
also possible. Additionally, the side walls, one pair or
both pairs of said walls, they have a beam-shaped
structure.

The form stability of this unit comprising the outer
tray and inner bag is therefore determined by the
inexpensive cardboard material of the outer tray. The
barrier characteristics are determined completely by
the plastic material, so that the cost may be
optimised since the more expensive plastic material
need only be dimensioned for barrier protection and
not for the purpose of shape stability.

Since the product in the plastic package usually
will be subjected to heat treatment of a level which
the cardboard cannot withstand, the cardboard
material is fastened only after termination of the heat
treatment. This is also the correct choice from the
viewpoint of the process.

Using the designation a, Fig. 2 shows first basic
shapes of non-linear profiles, more particularly as
viewed from the left, one concave profile and one
convex profile; the designation b indicates two

5 different basic shapes of profiles provided with lips,
the one in the shape of a sigma and the other in the
shape of a mirror reversed sigma; the designation c
indicates additional examples of profiles provided
with lips where the non-linear profile member has

10 lips as in the case b; and the designation d indicates
two "double sigma" or "double zigzag" profiles
provided with lips.

The strip 10 in Fig. 3 is a strip of cardboard or of a
corresponding material. The solid lines 11,12 and 13

75 indicate fold lines for other similar weakened areas,
which are applied to the strip material in the upward
turned side according to Fig. 1. The dashed lines 14,
15, 16 and 17 indicate fold lines or the like made in
the other side of the strip.

20 The zigzag line defines the limited lines which
determines the corner figuration when a frame is
formed according to Fig. 4 which shows the inside of
a corner. The profile or profile shape which is
indicated in Fig. 4 and which is principle comprises

25 portions forming a sigma (capital sigma) or mirror
reversed sigma or W, depending on which side of
the corner one views the frame from, has proven
itself to provide high bending and torsional rigidity
for a closed frame.

30 This makes the frame especially suitable as a
stiffening rim for a package 18 of tray type
comprising a bottom portion 19 and a iid 20
(Fig. 5-7). Such trays are very stable especially when
filled and with respect to shearing forces in the plane

35 of the lid or planes parallel therewith, but the
strength is insufficient with regard to bending and
turning about axes in said plane.

The incompensing frame 21 in Fig. 5-7 provide the
needed strength in this respect and provide further-

40 more a package which is easy to handle and which,
moreover has good standing characteristics.

The enclosing frame 21 in Fig. 4-7 is sealed or
fasten to the tray in accordance with the invention so
that the flexible member, in the present case the tray

45 provided with a lid, is fasten to as many portions of
the frame 21 that its deformation, viewed perpen-
dicular to the frame, is prevented by the flexible
member.

As will be seen by comparing Fig. 6 and 7, the

50 "non-linear member" of the profile in the present
case having a "W-charact eristic" from the one side
of the corner to the other side. Viewed in the
direction of the circumference, the frame has
generally portions which extend outward and inward

55 relative to the package in the frame, and transition
portions 22, 23, 24 and 25 between such portions are
located at the corners.

In the exemplifying embodiment in Fig. 6 and 7 the
frame is provided with lips and the flexible "inner

60 package" is fasten to the upper sides of the lips of
the zigzag-shaped profile, which thus change their
orientation relative to their inner package in the
corner regions.

In Fig. 8, 9 and 10 are shown another possibilities

65 for fastening which is stilled done so that the

4

7

EP 0 329 634 A2

8

deformation ot the frame, viewed in the direction
perpendicular to the plane of the frame is prevented
by the flexible member and "inner con tainer"
comprising a tray member 19a and a lid 20a is fasten
to the lips of the frame 21a, in this case to the 5
underside of the lip on the one side of the corner and
to the upper side of the opposite side of the corner.
As in Fig. 6 and 7, it is fasten at as many points of the
enclosing frame or its lips, that the deformation of
the frame viewed in a direction perpendicular to the 10
plane of the frame, is prevented by the flexible
member. Fastening may for example be done using
pointwise applied melting glue or by heat sealing all
the way around using a thermal plastic material.

In Fig. 11 and 12 is shown an additional case 15
where an enclosing frame 21b is utilized together
with a flexible inner package having a lid and tray.
Instead of fastening the incompensing boarder lip of
the flexible package to the frame lip all the way
around the frame, one has chosen to fasten two 20
opposing sides of the "non-linear member" of the
profile, i.e., in the present case, in the W-shaped
member of the zigzag-shaped or the sigma-shaped
profile. Even in this case one guaranties that the
fastening will be sufficient for the flexible member to 25
provide the frame with the ability to assist deforma-
tion viewed in a direction perpendicular to the plane
of the frame.

Instead of the zigzag profile according to the
Fig. 6-12, one may of course also invision a profile 30
shape according to a in Fig. 1 , c or d. A package
having a frame with profile d is shown in perspective
in Fig. 17.

In Fig. 12 a frame 21c supports a bag 26 according
to Fig. 17. This bag 26 is of the type which is 35
manufactured to be spill free by means of welding
and punching through webs of flexible material or a
lengthwise sealed tube.

The bag has two characteristic members, namely
a pouring spout 27 and a recess 28 which corre- 40
sponds to the spout. The recess leaves an open
space for inserting a finger between the bag and the
frame after the bag has been hung in the frame. By
pounching out or by some other method providing a
slit 29 in the frame 21c (Fig. 12), one makes it 46
possible to reclose the bag 26.

Fig. 13 shows how the free space between a bag
26a and a frame 21 d is used for hanging the packing
on a hook 30. In this case there may for example be
some kind of nutrient solution in the bag 26a for 5C
delivery of the solution to a patient. For such a
purpose, the bag 26a is provided with a drainage
tube 31.

Fig. 14 shows a strip-shaped material 10a for a
"double-zigzag profile", the one corner 22a being 5i
shown from the inside of the frame.

Fig. 15 shows a frame manufactured of a material
in Fig. 15 together with an upper, flexible, sheet-
shaped element 20c, which can be opened. A
corresponding sheet-shaped element is fasten to a
the lower encircling lip in the frame and serves as a
bottom for the package in Fig. 8.

Fig. 16 shows a product containing tray formed
from a frame 22c made of the strip in Fig. 14 and a
thin top closure 20c and a bottom closure of similar 6

type.

Claims

1 . A package comprising two joined mem-
bers, the one flexible and the other an outer
member of cardboard or corresponding ma-
terial, where the flexible member is a closed
member containing a filling product, CHARAC-
TERISED IN that the outer member has a closed
peripheral portion and a completely covering
bottom which is continuous with the peripheral
portion, and in that the flexible member is
fastened along its entire periphery at at least as
many points of the outer member that the
package has a stable shape.

2. Package according to claim 1, CHARAC-
TERISED IN that the outer member, in a raised
state, forms a tray.

3. Method for manufacturing a package with
stable shape, comprising two joined members,
the one flexible and the other an outer member
of cardboard or corresponding material, CHAR-
ACTERISED IN that a closed member contain-
ing a filling forms the flexible member and is
fasten to the outer member, which is closed
along its periphery and has a fully covering
bottom, and in that the flexible member is
fastened at at least as many points of the outer
member, that said shape-stable package is
achieved.

4. Method according to claim 3, CHARAC-
TERISED IN that the flexible member with its
filling is subjected to a certain treatment, for
example heat treatment, which is destructive to
the outer member, before it is fasten to its outer
member.

5. Method according to claim 4, CHARAC-
TERISED IN that the outer member is chosen so
that it may be raised to the shape of a tray and
decorated in advance.

6. Method according to claim 5, CHARAC-
TERISED IN that the fastening is made to lips of
the tray.

5

EP 0 329 634 A2

FIG. 1

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A B C _D

FIG. 3

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19

20
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21

FIG. 6

18

20

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19

21

FIG. 7

,18b ?0b
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~7~
19b

21b

FIG. 8

,18 b

,20b

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19b

FIG.

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FIG. 12

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FIG. 15

BP 0 329 634 A2

Europaisches Patentamt

© ^lll European Patent Office © Publication number: 0 329 634

Office europeen des brevets A3

© EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

© Application number: 89850050.9 © Int. CI*: B 65 D 75/52

© Date of filing: 14.02.89

© Priority: 15X2.86 SE 8800494

© Date of publication of application:

23.06.89 Bulletin 89/34

© Designated Contracting States:

AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT U LU NL SE

© Date of deferred publication of search report:

07.02.90 Bulletin 90/06

© Applicant: AB AKERLUND & RAUSING
Box 22

S-221 00Lund (SE)

ALFASTAR AB
Box 198

S-22100Lund (SE)

@ Inventor: Persson, Bengt
dstra Falkvagen 1
S-23202Akarp (SE)

Stenstrom, Lennart

Daggstigen22

S-141 38 Huddinge (SE)

Wahlstrom, Lennart
Blockvagen13
S-147 00Tumba (SE)

© Representative: Graudums, ValdisetaJ
Albihn West AB Store Nygatan 15
S-411 08 Goteborg (SE)

CO

CO
CD

o>

CM
CO

© Package.

© A package comprising two joined members. One member
(21) is a closed member of cardboard (21) or corresponding
material and the other member (18) is flexible (18).

Said one member has a closed peripheral portion and a
completely covering bottom which is continuous with the
peripheral portion.

The flexible member is fastened along its entire periphery at
at least as many points of the outer member that the package
has a stable shape.

18
/
*

20

J

19

FIG. 6

CL
UJ

Bundesdruckeret Berlin

J)

European Patent EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT

Office

Application Number

EP 89 85 0050

DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Category

Citation of document wilh indication, where appropriate,
of relevant passages

Relevant
to claim

CLASSIFICATION OF THE
APPLICATION (Int. a. 4)

A
A

A,D

GB-A-1 416 816 (SCHOLLE CORP.)
* Figure 1, claim 1 *

DE-A-2 218 481 (K. LICH)

Page 2, lines 2-8; page 4, lines
9-18; figure 1 *

US-A-4 367 842 (RAUSING)
Figures 1,4 * & SE-A-432 576

1,2,3,5
1-3

1,3,5

B 65 D 75/52

The present search report has been drawn up for all claims

TECHNICAL FIELDS
SEARCHED Out. CI. 4)

B 65 D

Place of search

TH: HAGUE

Dale of coinplclkkD of the search

26-10-1989

ANDEREGG P-Y.F.

CATEGORY OF CITED DOCUMENTS

X : particularly relevant if taken alone

Y : particularly relevant if combined with another

document of the same category
A : technological background
O : noD-wrinen disclosure
P : intermediate document

theory or principle underlying the invention
earlier patent document, but published on, or
after the filing date
document cited in the application
document cited for other reasons

& : member of the same patent family, corresponding
document

EP 0 329 334 A2

FIG. 1

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FIG. 3

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FIG. 7

•-21b

FIG. 8

,18 b

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20b

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FIG, 9

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